By Tricia White

Rail passengers will see increased service frequency on the weekends to mirror increased usage- starting on September 28.

Recent ridership data from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) shows continued increases toward pre-pandemic levels, with ridership at approximately 80% of pre-pandemic levels to end the last quarter. This upward trend is marked by changes in rider behavior including more frequent weekend ridership. 

Customer feedback encouraged increased service frequency, and DART will deliver on this concept via the latest service changes; most of these launched on September 16. These updates include rail weekend schedule frequency improvement, bus service optimization, and reassignments of bus bays.

Rail Schedule Frequency Improvement:

Weekend riders on all of DART’s rail lines including Red, Green, Blue, and Orange will experience increased service frequency, with trains running every 20 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays between 6 AM and 10 PM. This is an increase in service from the current schedule. Weekend service outside of these hours will remain at a 30-minute frequency. Passengers should note this service change will be implemented on September 28 to coincide with the start of the State Fair of Texas.

“The way our passengers utilize DART is evolving,” said Dee Leggett, DART’s Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “Weekend ridership continues to grow – exceeding pre-pandemic ridership levels. This means our passengers are utilizing the system to reach more entertainment destinations and getting more out of DART throughout the week. This will be especially true as we enter State Fair of Texas season! This service change features increased rail frequency during peak hours on the weekend launching on September 28th. We are excited to fulfill this long-standing request for increased service from our passengers, and this increased service frequency will carry on after the Fair concludes.”

“Weekend ridership continues to grow…. This means our passengers are utilizing the system to reach more entertainment destinations and getting more out of DART throughout the week. This will be especially true as we enter State Fair of Texas season!”

Dee Leggett, DART’s Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Bus Service Improvements:

• Route 222: Route 222 – serving the Southwestern Medical District, Brookhollow, and Regal Row will be discontinued and replaced by the extension of an existing route, Route 207 and the creation of a new route, Route 122.
• Route 207: The expansion of this route northwestward will reconnect the Lemmon Ave. corridor with jobs and other commercial destinations in the Regal Row area, such as the Family Place, the new Salvation Army Headquarters, Dallas County Elections Headquarters, the Thurston corridor, and the Inwood/Love Field Station.
• Route 122: This new route will serve the remaining segments of current Route 222 as a loop originating and ending at Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station with an improved 30-minute midday frequency. It will focus on Arlington Park and Brookriver, including service to Empire Central and the Mexican Consulate in Brookhollow. Unlike Route 222, this route will not serve Inwood/Love Field Station – that area will be served by route 207.
• Route 22: Travel between Forest Lane Station and Forest/Jupiter Station will now have 10-minute service intervals on weekdays to help support this heavily traveled portion of the route. The remainder of the route will continue to have 15–20-minute service intervals in the area that connects Addison Transit Center with Downtown Garland Station.
• Route 17: Buses will now use SMU Boulevard and Worcola for improved access to SMU/Mockingbird station from Greenville Avenue.
• Express Route 308: A new 2 PM trip will be added, departing from Cedars Station to supplement trips added to this schedule in June.
• Routes 9 and 47: Will now observe a new Dallas timepoint, moving from Elm & Griffin to EBJ Union Station.
• Routes 28, 214, 224, and 233: Minor schedule changes will be implemented to enhance on-time performance.
• Forest Lane, Inwood Love Field, Spring Valley, SWMD/Parkland Station will have new bus bay boarding locations, customers should follow the signage at each location.

These updates are part of DART’s ongoing efforts to improve the frequency, accessibility, efficiency and reliability of our transit services.

For additional details and updates visit DART.org/servicechange.